Finding distant cousin’s most certainly has it’s advantages in genealogy. After a brief introduction, my newest found Beattie cousin (John, of Toronto, Canada) sent me one of the most exciting things I have seen in quite some time! Pictures of the gravestone for Eliza Gordon, Robert Bettie and…. drum roll please….David Beattie. The gravestone overlooks beautiful Kirkcudbright and the River Dee.

David Beattie, according to the gravestone was lost at sea on 8 October 1861 at the age of 20. I cannot tell you how much time I spent looking for him, never considering the possibility that he was lost at sea.